Mattie McGrath
Question:770. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Health if guidelines will be put in place regarding the use of e-cigarettes in public houses (details supplied). [17425/20]
View answerTuesday, 21 July 2020
Questions (770)
Written answers
There are no plans to introduce guidelines around the use of e-cigarettes in public houses at this time. However, the Deputy may wish to note that individual businesses and organisations are free to introduce an e-cigarette free policy if they choose to, and many have, including public transport providers and local authorities.
E-cigarettes are not regulated under the workplace smoking ban which was introduced on the basis of clear and unequivocal evidence that second hand smoke is harmful to non-smokers. That evidence base is still being developed in relation to the aerosol generated from e-cigarettes. In March of this year, the Health Research Board began a review of the evidence on the health harms of e-cigarettes, their effectiveness as an aid to smoking cessation and whether they act as a gateway to smoking tobacco products. The evidence review is expected to be completed in the Autumn and it will contribute to informing any future regulation in this area.
In October 2019 the Government approved the drafting of legislation for a Public Health (Tobacco and Nicotine Inhaling Products) Bill which will prohibit the sale of e-cigarettes to persons under 18. In addition the Programme for Government contains a commitment to legislate to curb the advertising of nicotine inhaling products near schools, on public transport and in cinemas.